Bond issue to appear on April 2 ballot

Thursday

Jan 24, 2013 at 7:43 PMJan 24, 2013 at 7:45 PM

A $2.5 million bond issue will be presented to voters on April 2, but if passed, taxpayers won't notice a difference in their wallets.The St. James School Board voted Friday to move forward with the action, which if approved will keep the district's tax levy at 53 cents.

Jim Brock

A $2.5 million bond issue will be presented to voters on April 2, but if passed, taxpayers won't notice a difference in their wallets. The St. James School Board voted Friday to move forward with the action, which if approved will keep the district's tax levy at 53 cents.“There won't be any tax increase,” said St. James Schools Superintendent Joy Tucker, who says the debt will be paid by continuing to make payments beyond the 2024-25 school year until 2032-33. “It's kind of like refinancing your house.”The $2.5 million would be used for a few projects, the primary being the construction of a multi-purpose complex at the existing football field.The new synthetic field would be available for football, soccer and other high school sports, along with band competitions and other events.“If it's been raining, my understanding is that the baseball team can actually go out and practice,” she said. “It's a synthetic field that can be used no matter what.”Another added bonus would be the return of track and field events to St. James, Tucker added.“We haven't been able to run a track meet in a long time,” she said. “I don't remember ever running in the 18 years I have been here. We have to pay for Owensville to host our track meet.”The City would also have access to the field for various events.Tucker said the funds would also be used to add classroom space at the middle school and to “move the entry way at the high school,” which will leave additional classroom space at John F. Hodge as well.“We've had a couple of students hit because of the traffic,” Tucker said. “This will take the entry to a one-way street and will get it off Sciota at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.”